Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News
Manchester Metropolis staged a second-half comeback to safe a 3-1 victory over Membership Brugge, reserving their place within the Champions League play-off spherical.
Regardless of a nervy first half that noticed the guests take the lead, Metropolis responded with a dominant second-half show to overturn the deficit and hold their European hopes alive.
The match started with Metropolis struggling to say their regular dominance. Brugge, unbeaten of their final 4 Champions League outings, settled shortly and appeared harmful on the counter.
Early warning indicators got here when Christos Tzolis burst down the suitable and crossed into the field, although Metropolis managed to clear.
Brugge took benefit of Metropolis’s torpid play and shocked the Etihad simply earlier than half-time. Tzolis discovered area on the flank and picked out Raphael Onyedika, who smashed the ball previous Ederson to present the guests a deserved lead.
Pep Guardiola was visibly pissed off on the touchline, figuring out his aspect wanted at the very least two targets to maintain their Champions League marketing campaign alive.
FULL-TIME | Into the play-offs 💪
🩵 3-1 ⚫️ #ManCity | #UCL pic.twitter.com/BKLzywA04K
— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) January 29, 2025
The second half noticed a rejuvenated Metropolis emerge from the dressing room. Guardiola made a change, bringing on Savinho for Gundogan, and the Brazilian performed a key position in shifting the momentum. Metropolis began urgent larger, transferring the ball with higher depth, and their efforts quickly paid off.
Within the 53rd minute, John Stones arrange Mateo Kovacic, who drove ahead and expertly positioned a shot into the underside nook to equalise.
The Etihad erupted, sensing a comeback on the playing cards. Metropolis continued to push ahead, although Brugge remained a risk on the break.
Tzolis squandered a golden alternative for the guests, dragging his effort large when he appeared sure to attain.
Within the 62nd minute, Savinho linked up brilliantly with Josko Gvardiol, whose low cross was inadvertently changed into his personal internet by Brugge’s Joel Ordonez.
Brugge tried to reply however struggled. Mignolet saved the guests within the sport with a vital save to disclaim Haaland, earlier than Seys cleared a follow-up effort off the road.
Nevertheless, the decisive second got here within the 77th minute when Savinho latched onto a move from Stones, burst into the field, and drilled a low shot previous Mignolet to make it 3-1.
The victory ensured Metropolis’s development within the competitors, sparking aid among the many followers and Guardiola’s teaching employees.
